Motorcycle engine hoist
An engine hoisting assembly for supporting an engine comprises a ground supporting frame, a substantially upright member having a longitudinal axis, a boom operably connected to the upright member, lifting means to selectively move the boom up or down along upright member's longitudinal axis and engine connecting means to operably connect the boom to the engine. The boom is maintained at a substantial horizontal orientation when lifting means selectively moves boom up or down.
This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 14/641,429, which was filed on Mar. 8, 2015, entitled “MOTORCYCLE ENGINE HOIST” and which was a regular application of, and claims the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/949,252 filed Mar. 7, 2014 and entitled, “MOTORCYCLE ENGINE HOIST”, the entirety of each of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to the field of engine hoist devices and, more particularly, to an engine hoist apparatus for removing, performing work on and reinstalling an engine of a motorcycle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe background information discussed below is presented to better illustrate the novelty and usefulness of the present invention. Except where indicated, this background information is not admitted prior art.
One of the biggest issues for motorcycle enthusiasts and motorcycle mechanics, when servicing or rebuilding their engines, is getting the heavy engines out of the motorcycles. Motorcycle engines commonly weigh as much as 250 lbs or more. Often, a motorcycle owner's manual states that it takes three (3) men to lift a motorcycle engine out from the motorcycle's frame. Conventional automotive engine floor hoists are not suitable for motorcycle engines because such hoists are designed to remove engines upward out of the automobile's engine compartment. In the case of motorcycles, engines cannot be moved upwards, because that direction is blocked by the motorcycle's frame, gas tank and seat. Moreover, in most motorcycles, there is typically only a few inches of clearance between the top of the engine and motorcycle's frame portion that is located above the engine. As such, motorcycle engines are generally removed from the motorcycle in a generally lateral fashion.
In cases where one cannot find additional manpower to lift an engine out of a motorcycle, a popular way to accomplish removal of the engine alone is as follows. First, the various components and parts are removed from the motorcycle as much as possible, to lighten the overall motorcycle. Then the engine/motor mounts are removed or loosen. The motorcycle is then slowly tilted on its side, allowing the engine to gently rest on the floor or ground surface. Once the engine is supported by the ground, the motorcycle and its frame are lifted back up, thereby leaving the engine supported by the ground surface and free to work on. However, this practice is time consuming (especially the first part of removing various components and parts from the motorcycle), risks damaging the engine and motorcycle during the tilting stage, such as if the motorcycle is accidentally dropped on its side and creates safety concerns (such as being pinned or trapped underneath the motorcycle).
Therefore, what is needed is an apparatus, device or assembly to easily, reliably and safely move a motorcycle engine in and out of its frame.
Referring to the drawings, several aspects of the present invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in detail in the figures, wherein:
The following description is of preferred embodiments by way of example only and without limitation to the combination of features necessary for carrying the invention into effect. Reference is to be had to the Figures in which identical reference numbers identify similar components. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features are shown in schematic or diagrammatic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and as shown generally in
In the preferred embodiment the engine hoisting assembly 10 comprises a ground supporting frame 12, a substantially vertical or upright member or post 14 having a longitudinal axis LA, a substantially horizontal member or boom 16 operably connected to upright member, lifting means 40 to selectively move boom 16 up or down and engine connecting means 50 to operably connect boom 16 to, and support therefrom, an engine E. Preferably, boom 16 is an elongate member with a longitudinal axis L having two ends 16a, 16b, wherein one end 16a is operably connected to upright member 14 and the other end 16b can be easily inserted, at least partially, within motorcycle engine frame F above engine E (see
As can be seen in the figures of the preferred embodiment, ground supporting frame 12 supports upright member 14, which projects substantially vertically therefrom. Ground supporting frame 12 preferably has a forked base 12b and a plurality of wheels or casters 12w to facilitate mobility of the engine hoisting assembly 10. In the preferred embodiment of
In the preferred embodiment of
Preferably, the various components of the invention 10, such as the base 12, upright member 14 and boom 16, are made of metal, steel or any other suitable material that provides adequate strength, durability and rigidity to support the various loads that may be encountered by the engine hoisting assembly 10. Upright member 14 may be welded to base 12 or fastened to base 12 in another suitable conventional manner.
In the preferred embodiment of
Sliding member 18 has a central passage 19 through which upright member 14 may pass (see
Preferably sliding member securing means 30 are provided to securely maintain sliding member 18 (and hence boom 16 and any load carried by boom) at one or more desired preset locations vertically along upright member 14. In the preferred embodiment of the assembly 10, securing means 30 comprises: (i) a plurality of upright member orifices 14o positioned at regular intervals along upright member 14, substantially between upper and lower end 14u, 14l (see
Preferably, lifting means 40 further comprises a jack 42 and a jack base member 44. Jack base member 44 supports jack 42 and is selectively, securably positionable along upright member 14 at one or more desired preset locations vertically along upright member 14 (see, for example
Jack 42 and jack base member 44 cooperate to selectively move boom 16 up or down along upright member 14. In the preferred embodiment of
In the preferred embodiment of the assembly 10, jack base member 44 may be secured at a desired preset location via jack base securing means 43. In the preferred embodiment of
In the preferred embodiment of the assembly 10, jack base member 44 further comprises a pair of later member 44l which create a base member channel or groove 44c therebetween (see
Once the engine E is supported by boom 16 and engine connecting means 50, any engine mounting bolts (not shown) that normally maintain engine E mounted to frame F can be loosened and removed (along with any other components that may need to be disconnected to allow engine E to be removed from frame). Lifting means 40 can then be utilized to lift boom 16 and, hence, engine E upwards U (see
Once the engine E is removed from the motorcycle M and supported by engine hoisting assembly 10, the engine E can be repaired or otherwise worked on while supported by assembly 10. If desired, engine E may be lowered (e.g. to the ground), by: (i) disengaging sliding member securing means 30, (ii) lowering jack 42 so as to place sliding member 18 at a next lower desired preset location vertically along upright member 14, (iii) re-engaging sliding member securing means 30 at such next lower desired preset location, (iv) releasing jack 42 from boom 16 or sliding member 18 and lowering lifting means 40 to a next lower position along upright member 14, (v) re-engaging jack 42 to boom 16 or sliding member 18, and then repeating steps (i) and (v) so as to lower engine E in an inch-worm fashion. Similarly, engine E maybe be raised by reversing the above-noted steps.
Another preferred embodiment of an engine hoisting assembly 10 is shown generally in
Like the embodiment of
Unlike the embodiment shown in
Advantageously, because the pins (i.e. roller pins 24) now rotate against upright member 14 and the bearings 25 are maintained in place on the outside of sliding member 18 (via bosses 26), it is easy to remove said pins 24 of this embodiment as compared to pins 22 in the embodiment of
Further unlike the embodiment shown in
Preferably, lifting means 40 of the embodiment of
Directional terms such as “front”, “back”, “in”, “out”, “vertically”, “horizontally”, “down”, “up”, “lower”, and the like may have been used in the description. These terms are applicable to the embodiments shown and described in conjunction with the drawings. These terms are merely used for the purpose of description in connection with the drawings and do not necessarily apply to all of the positions in which the invention may be used.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications to the invention as described herein will be possible without falling outside the scope of the invention. In the claims, the word “comprising” is used in its inclusive sense and does not exclude other elements being present. The indefinite article “a” before a claim feature does not exclude more than one of the features being present.
Claims
1. An engine hoisting assembly for supporting an engine, the assembly comprising:
- a ground supporting frame;
- a substantially upright member having a longitudinal axis;
- a boom operably connected to the upright member;
- lifting means to selectively move the boom up or down along upright member's longitudinal axis; and
- engine connecting means to operably connect the boom to said engine;
- wherein the boom is maintained at a substantial horizontal orientation when lifting means selectively moves boom up or down; and
- wherein the substantially upright member is supported by the ground supporting frame.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the boom is of sufficient length to extend substantially over at least a portion of the engine, from one lateral side to another, when said boom is positioned above said engine.
3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the length of the boom is in a range of 18 to 36 inches.
4. An engine hoisting assembly for supporting an engine, the assembly comprising:
- a ground supporting frame;
- a substantially upright member having a longitudinal axis;
- a boom operably connected to the upright member;
- lifting means to selectively move the boom up or down along upright member's longitudinal axis; and
- engine connecting means to operably connect the boom to said engine;
- wherein the boom is maintained at a substantial horizontal orientation when lifting means selectively moves boom up or down;
- wherein the substantially upright member is supported by the ground supporting frame; and
- wherein the boom is slidably mounted to upright member for slidable movement therealong.
5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the boom is slidably mounted to upright member via a sliding member having a center.
6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the sliding member further comprises a receiver portion to receive one end of the boom.
7. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the sliding member further comprises:
- a central passage having a central passage axis to slidably receive upright member therealong; and
- a plurality of rollers disposed within central passage to rollably receive upright member therebetween.
8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the rollers are removably secured within the central passage.
9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the sliding member further comprises:
- a plurality of paired corresponding slider member orifices;
- and wherein the assembly further comprises:
- removable roller retaining pins insertable through said paired corresponding slider member orifices and suitable to keep said plurality of rollers in proper placement within central passage.
10. The assembly of claim 5 further comprising sliding member securing means to securely maintain sliding member at one or more desired preset locations along upright member's longitudinal axis.
11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the sliding member securing means further comprises:
- a plurality of upright member orifices through upright member at a first axis, said plurality of upright member orifices positioned at regular intervals along the upright member, said first axis being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of upright member;
- a central orifice through substantially the center of sliding member, said central orifice having a second axis suitable for alignment with the first axis of at least one of said plurality of upright member orifices through upright member; and
- a removable security retaining pin, suitable for insertion through said central orifice and at least one of said plurality of upright member orifices of upright member, when the second axis of central orifice is aligned with the first axis of at least one of said plurality of upright member orifices.
12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the removable security retaining pin can also function as a pivot pin for the sliding member and the boom.
13. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the sliding member further comprises:
- an outside surface;
- a central passage having a central passage axis to slidably receive upright member therealong; and
- a plurality of paired corresponding slider member orifices;
- and wherein the assembly further comprises:
- a plurality of roller pins suitable for insertion through said paired corresponding slider member orifices and suitable for rotation against upright member;
- a plurality of roller pin bearings suitable for supporting said plurality of roller pins, with at least one roller pin bearing positioned at each of said paired corresponding slider member orifices; and
- a plurality of bearing bosses secured on the outside surface of the sliding member, each of said bearing bosses suitable to maintain at least one of said plurality of roller pin bearings adjacent a sliding member orifice.
14. An engine hoisting assembly for supporting an engine, the assembly comprising:
- a ground supporting frame;
- a substantially upright member having a longitudinal axis;
- a boom operably connected to the upright member;
- lifting means to selectively move the boom up or down along upright member's longitudinal axis; and
- engine connecting means to operably connect the boom to said engine;
- wherein the boom is maintained at a substantial horizontal orientation when lifting means selectively moves boom up or down;
- wherein the substantially upright member is supported by the ground supporting frame; and
- wherein the engine connecting means further comprises straps.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Apr 18, 2017
Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
Patent Publication Number: 20170217741
Inventor: Douglas Grodaes (Lacombe)
Primary Examiner: Joseph J Hail
Assistant Examiner: Henry Y Hong
Application Number: 15/490,844